International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 will be celebrated by the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO), in collaboration with the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, in an ecumenical and interreligious on-line meeting, with the participation of women of faith belonging to the world’s main religious traditions.
The event is inspired by Pope Leo and his address during the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of Nostra Aetate, “Walking together in Hope”, on 28th October 2025: “As religious leaders, guided by the wisdom of our respective traditions, we share a sacred responsibility: to help our people to break free from the chains of prejudice, anger and hatred; to help them rise above egoism and self-centeredness; to help them overcome the greed that destroys both the human spirit and the earth. In this way, we can lead our people to become prophets of our time — voices that denounce violence and injustice, heal division and proclaim peace for all our brothers and sisters”. It is also motivated by his predecessor, Pope Francis: “The need for peace challenges us all and demands that concrete steps be taken” (Spes Non Confundit).
We wish to come together to commemorate IWD, reflecting and discerning, as women of faith, on how to promote a culture of peace, encounter and hope; on how religions may commit to creating them.
We cannot overlook the fact that, in situations of conflict, it is often women and children who suffer the most severe consequences of violence. How can we really work and prepare a path to peace in our world? Being bearers of hope is one of the first steps; taking small but concrete steps as women, as communities, committing ourselves to “remedying the remote causes of injustice” (Spes Non Condunfit). In this process, the co-responsibility and leadership of women, each of them from their own reality, culture, faith and mission, can contribute to the hope and peace relationships that the world needs today.
📅 Date: March 5
🕒 Time: 3.00 pm – 4.30 pm (Rome time)
🌐 Online
🎧EN-ES-FR
Speakers
Opening
Card. George Jacob Koovakad – Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
Mónica Santamarina – WUCWO President General
Panel
Islamic perspective: Ms. Dunya Elemenler (Germany)
Buddhist perspective: Dr. Samya Charika Marasinghe (Sri Lanka)
Hindu perspective: Svamini Shuddhananda Ghiri (Italy)
Jewish perspective: Rabbi Allyson Zacharoff (USA)
Catholic perspective: Dr. Stephanie Wong (USA)
Ecumenical perspective: Ms. Carla Khijoyan (Lebanon/Armenia)